Actually, bump-starting a bike was standard practice for road racers until the advent of starter rollers in the 1980s, and the technique necessarily involves a side-saddle bump to help with traction, so the bike doesn't simply skid on compression. Trying to leap fully on the saddle from a run is not only very difficult to do without barking your shins or squashing your balls, it also means you have to start the whole process again if the bike doesn't start. If you're side-saddle, you simply slip off and push again. In 35 years of bump-starting race bikes, I've never toppled over once. Never happens.
oh man, sitting here in Austria as a German listening to a Richard Thompson song, and google what a "black lighting" is, immediately falling in Love with this bike and than realising that your Mother once ridden a XT500 (witch I was allowed to ride at the tender age of 16 years). And now being here with a big grin ony face and knowing that I will suck off all information I can get of this bike, just make me grin more and more. hallelujah, what a Bike!!!
1:40 man in an anorak, no gloves and no helmet stops and gives advice on safety, expecting to be taken seriously. He then departs riding on the left hand side of the road (in Austria).
@SpeedTriple59 ; Ah, it's a 50s-era jacket, with no label left - very short (meant for high-waisted jeans) horsehide D-pocket, very Yank. Strange plastic waist-belt buckle. Found at a flea market in San Francisco.
I wuz wondrin' about that myself because of the lights. They would have had to be added because Black Lightnings were sold "full race" only to the best of my knowledge. To me the greatest m/c will always be the Vincent Black Widow with the BL a very close 2nd.
When you bump start a bike (no other way on a Vincent BL), it doesn't always work first time. You ride sidesaddle, ready to jump off and give it another go until you're sure it is going to run.
I've wondered the same thing. When I had dirtbikes, there was a time I had to bump start mine like that, but I would hop up and come down on the seat straddle it. Side saddling like this guy did is a good way to accidentally just go on over and lose it on the right side.
When I used to ride here in the UK. in th 50'ande60's it was common practice to bump start sidesaddle whether you needed to or not your centre of gravity is more towards you and if you come unstuck you tend to land back on your feet rather than the bike going over, also most girls in skirts preferred to ride sidesaddle. People were far less safety conscious.I don't remember seeing anyone fall off.Bikes were a lot lighter then.You also had the added fun of setting the choke and ignition manually and if you're running on the flat you lose speed straddling the bike.
Run and bump was once how ALL GPs were started... The IOM TTs etc. A European Thing No stupid wheelies off the line.... The FIM ended that about 1977....
That is how RACERS once started their bikes! Considered MANLY by cafe racers in the UK Europe Kiddies! I preferred to start the Ducati Diana and NSU Konsul II that way... My '49 Indian Scout... Harley Sprint... I had a blown right ACL from a bike crash.... Could not afford a kick back trashing what was left. 4-F no 'Nam 1967...
This was a closed-roads event on the Grossglockner Pass, which is a toll road and subject to such closures. The approach road is solely for the Pass, and there was considerable signage in the local village (5 miles down the hill) telling them there was a motorsports competition happening that weekend, with the times the road would be open. Thus, the only traffic on the approach road was for the event, and very tolerant of warm-up and plug-testing tearaways...
Even a guy could feel special on any such like; my CB500 doesn't really give the same vibes; doesn't really attract red-head beauties either :( That's only good for you old boy, my wife says...
"Ruining it for everybody!?" That...that... "richard cranium" obviously doesn't know what a _Black Lightning_ is! Ruining it for everybody... PFFF! 🤦🤦🤦
thank you so much for putting this on youtube, I have wanted for the last 20 years to hear a VBL ... so sweet
"A girl could feel special on any such like."
Red hair and black leather your favourite colour scheme?
"That's a fine motorbike!"
julie taron well my hat's off to you, that's a Vincent black lightning 1952
A girl could feel special on any such like
Actually, bump-starting a bike was standard practice for road racers until the advent of starter rollers in the 1980s, and the technique necessarily involves a side-saddle bump to help with traction, so the bike doesn't simply skid on compression. Trying to leap fully on the saddle from a run is not only very difficult to do without barking your shins or squashing your balls, it also means you have to start the whole process again if the bike doesn't start. If you're side-saddle, you simply slip off and push again. In 35 years of bump-starting race bikes, I've never toppled over once. Never happens.
Hi Paul
Trust you are well.?
Regards
WF
oh man, sitting here in Austria as a German listening to a Richard Thompson song, and google what a "black lighting" is, immediately
falling in Love with this bike and than realising that your Mother once ridden a XT500 (witch I was allowed to ride at the tender age of 16 years). And now being here with a big grin ony face and knowing that I will suck off all information I can get of this bike, just make me grin more and more. hallelujah, what a Bike!!!
The big grin on the riders face as he's going "vrrm! vrrm! vrrrm!" as it wheels along slowly. Priceless....
Lucky bastard!
"Said James to red Molly"
"Well hats off to you"
“That’s a Vincent Black Lightning 1952”
If fate should break my stride, I'll give you my Vincent to ride.
That guy on the XT500 what a bell-end. Love the Vincent.
Bell-end ….😂😂😂 did not know here in Switzerland this word exists .. so funny 😂
"I've ridden a lot of Vincents...". I'm quite envious! I've loved these bikes for 35 years but have never ridden one.
1:40 man in an anorak, no gloves and no helmet stops and gives advice on safety, expecting to be taken seriously. He then departs riding on the left hand side of the road (in Austria).
By the way: Did he say these lads are ruining the event for everyone 😂😂⁉️
The Sporty at 3:34, ok now ,neat build. I do so wish to be a Rocker at the Ace Cafe. But ,alas! I ride an archaic Harley in Nebraska.
that is some awesome technique push starting it!
That sound! Nothing like it before...and nothing like it since.
@SpeedTriple59 ; Ah, it's a 50s-era jacket, with no label left - very short (meant for high-waisted jeans) horsehide D-pocket, very Yank. Strange plastic waist-belt buckle. Found at a flea market in San Francisco.
We own a 1950 Vincent Black Lightning in England. What year is this one please?
@Weavers07 ; That's a Harley-Davidson 1940 WR750...what America was racing on dirt tracks before WW2.
Aha! Just the info I was looking for.
In the UK back in the 50's/60's some of us started cars like that, most of us ran with dud batteries, so no power for starter motors!
Had a van in the 90’s with a dodgy starter motor always parked on slopes then bumped started it
Black Lightning to my recollection was the track version of the Black Shadow. That's got to be one of only a handful made. Probably worth a fortune.
Roadghost88 www.bonhams.com/auctions/24509/preview_lot/5105133/?category=list&length=10&page=1
is this a small bike or a big guy?
I wuz wondrin' about that myself because of the lights. They would have had to be added because Black Lightnings were sold "full race" only to the best of my knowledge. To me the greatest m/c will always be the Vincent Black Widow with the BL a very close 2nd.
I wuz wondrin' what the hell a black widow is??? A spider bike???
I have made lots of videos of our 1950 Vincent Black Lighting on here if you are interested. Thanks for showing us your brilliant example.
PTRuth, regards dear lass. Don't I hope to see them all ?!
Danke schoen!
What a sound!
why do they go side saddle on the old bikes ?
When you bump start a bike (no other way on a Vincent BL), it doesn't always work first time. You ride sidesaddle, ready to jump off and give it another go until you're sure it is going to run.
I've wondered the same thing. When I had dirtbikes, there was a time I had to bump start mine like that, but I would hop up and come down on the seat straddle it. Side saddling like this guy did is a good way to accidentally just go on over and lose it on the right side.
You got that right, Machi74005. You look damned silly when it happens, too.
When I used to ride here in the UK. in th 50'ande60's it was common practice to bump start sidesaddle whether you needed to or not your centre of gravity is more towards you and if you come unstuck you tend to land back on your feet rather than the bike going over, also most girls in skirts preferred to ride sidesaddle. People were far less safety conscious.I don't remember seeing anyone fall off.Bikes were a lot lighter then.You also had the added fun of setting the choke and ignition manually and if you're running on the flat you lose speed straddling the bike.
Run and bump was once how ALL GPs were started...
The IOM TTs etc.
A European Thing
No stupid wheelies off the line....
The FIM ended that about 1977....
But its ok to come rolling in with a couple of divisions of panzers...Just not a noisy English motorcycle.
How do you give someone shit for going too fast on the fastest motorcycle ever made (at the time)?
Could you get a pair jeans any tighter ?
George Michael called! He wants his Jeans Back!!!
Fucking hipsters with cash
What a machine!
i feel for the Vincent, Phil Irvine would be having a chuckle
YIKES at :57. near miss!!!!
great bike great video *****
@polskich ; I'm 6'; Vincents are surprisingly small.
That is how RACERS once started their bikes!
Considered MANLY by cafe racers in the UK
Europe
Kiddies!
I preferred to start the Ducati Diana and NSU Konsul II that way...
My '49 Indian Scout... Harley Sprint...
I had a blown right ACL from a bike crash....
Could not afford a kick back trashing what was left.
4-F no 'Nam
1967...
What the hell is going on?!!! Don't they have traffic laws in Austria?
This was a closed-roads event on the Grossglockner Pass, which is a toll road and subject to such closures. The approach road is solely for the Pass, and there was considerable signage in the local village (5 miles down the hill) telling them there was a motorsports competition happening that weekend, with the times the road would be open. Thus, the only traffic on the approach road was for the event, and very tolerant of warm-up and plug-testing tearaways...
They should have paid to see that bike!
Somebody please buy that boy a tripod.
yeah! man!!!!
@vintagent1 they are great bikes anyway
The Austrian people don't scare me none
They sure don't scare my gun
Wtf is going on here? Riding against the arrows cars coming the opposite way😳😳😳
Actually a pritty cool bike
Even a guy could feel special on any such like; my CB500 doesn't really give the same vibes; doesn't really attract red-head beauties either :(
That's only good for you old boy, my wife says...
"Ruining it for everybody!?" That...that... "richard cranium" obviously doesn't know what a _Black Lightning_ is! Ruining it for everybody... PFFF! 🤦🤦🤦
@royrnc you should go over there .you will find there are loud, obnoxious and boorish people every were
"Just do it again" hahahhahaha
If ya meet a gal name o Red Molly,avoid her at all costs mate.😂
a wannabe....still believe himself he is the attraction...EGO TO THE TOP.